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The Vauxhall Grandland is a sensible, practical and good value used family SUV. Lawrence Allan takes a look.
History: What is the 2018-2024 Vauxhall Grandland?
The Grandland X was Vauxhall’s belated attempt to properly compete with global success stories like the Nissan Qashqai and Volkswagen Tiguan in the family SUV space.
We use the word ‘belated’ because many will forget the existence of the Vauxhall Antara. A result of General Motors’ reckoning that one model could serve all global tastes, it was developed in Korea under the former Daewoo operation and the twin of the Chevrolet Captiva.
While the Antara fulfilled the family SUV brief on paper, it neither sold well nor won applause from critics. A shake-up was needed and eventually came when a joint venture with the PSA Group (now Stellantis) let Vauxhall and Opel access Peugeot’s SUV toy box. This was well before both brands were acquired by Stellantis from General Motors.
The result was the Grandland X. At long last a Vauxhall SUV designed specifically for European tastes, it was effectively a reskinned Peugeot 3008 – and given the 3008 was a very strong seller, that’s no bad thing. It sat alongside the smaller Crossland X (a reskinned Peugeot 2008) and Mokka X (a purely GM-developed model).
For the years that followed the Grandland X sold well – if not quite as strongly as its Peugeot cousin – meaning plenty of used supply is out there. In 2021, Vauxhall dropped the X suffix as part of a mid-life revamp. Our in-depth used review looks at the original Grandland X and the updated Grandland that followed.
Verdict: is the Vauxhall Grandland a good car?
The Grandland is a family SUV that ticks a lot of boxes, offering great value on the used market, plenty of space, good levels of standard equipment and an inoffensive driving experience. It's a car you buy with your head and not your heart. There are definitely more inspiring, more luxurious and better to drive alternatives, however.
Specs and used pricing
While the Grandland X was launched under General Motors ownership, you won’t find any GM engines under the bonnet.
You get PSA-sourced three and four-cylinder petrol engines and four-cylinder diesels, plus plug-in hybrid options including the surprisingly rapid all-wheel drive Hybrid4. For the facelifted Grandland some of the less popular engine options were dropped and the range streamlined (more details in the Engines section).
Despite the Grandland X’s popularity with fleet and rental sectors, even the entry-level SE (later SE Premium) came equipped with a seven-inch touchscreen, cruise control, 17-inch alloys, auto lights and wipers and dual-zone climate control.
There’s a slightly baffling array of trims beyond that such as Design Line, Tech line Nav, with Sport Nav/SRI Nav proving the most popular with sat-nav, 18-inch alloys, all-round parking sensors and blind spot monitoring among the kit tally.
Elite Nav brings some extra niceties such as leather seats, heated at the front and with power adjustment on the driver’s side, along with 19-inch alloys and a panoramic glass roof. Ultimate trim is rare on the used market because it was a pricey purchase new – it came fully loaded with a premium sound system, adaptive cruise, an electric tailgate, adaptive LED headlights, a 360-degree camera system and even heated rear seats.
Plenty of used supply means keen prices. You’ll find high mileage diesel examples that have ploughed motorways all their lives for as little as £5,000, or lower mileage examples that are insurance write-offs.
A budget of at least £8,000 gets you a tidy, average mileage pre-2020 example, with higher specs commanding a slight premium. The cleanest, highest spec Grandland Xs are between £11-12,000, with the hybrids also commanding a premium. A facelifted 2022 Grandland starts from around £15,000.
Rivals
The Grandland and Grandland X both have a slew of rivals competing for your attention – with the Vauxhall playing on value rather than style or excitement. Alternatives include the ubiquitous Nissan Qashqai and Ford Kuga, along with the Vauxhall’s French cousin, the Peugeot 3008.
There are plenty of others, too, not least the Renault Kadjar, Seat Ateca, Skoda Karoq, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage and Mazda CX-5. All offer a broadly similar overall package – which you should go for largely depends on the price, equipment level and which you prefer the look of.
Interior and practicality
Whether you opt for a bells-and-whistles flagship trim level or a base model, the Grandland X’s interior is more functional than enticing – certainly when compared to the Peugeot 3008 on which it’s based.
That might be no bad thing if you’re a family buyer because the straightforward dash layout is easy to get on with – and very similar the Astra of the era. There are physical buttons for the climate control and functions such as lane assist, as well as easy shortcuts below the touchscreen.
Speaking of the touchscreen, it’s fairly easy to use and responsive, if a bit sluggish and dated-looking by modern standards. But even the basic seven-inch screen comes with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, plus basic voice control. The upgraded eight-inch screen is much the same bar the addition of in-built navigation.
The infotainment is one key update that the facelifted Grandland received in 2022, along with some upgraded materials and upholstery. Every model received a digital dial display replacing the old analogue setup, and while a seven-inch touchscreen remains on base models (combined with a seven-inch dial display) mid-spec trims and above offer a ten-inch touchscreen with twelve-inch digital dials.
The twin-screen combo is a significant upgrade, even if it doesn’t quite often the level of customisation that a VW Group system offers. Hybrid models also gain features such as pre-conditioning via a smartphone app.
Prior to the update the Grandland X’s cabin quality is mixed. It should stand up to the abuse that comes with family life, but there are plenty of scratchy plastics to detract from any kind of premium air. Things are a bit plusher in the updated Grandland, but it’s still not up to the levels of fit and finish a 3008 offers.
Passenger space, storage and boot space
The functional cabin of the Grandland gives you a raised and comfortable driving position (all-important in an SUV). Look for examples fitted with the upgraded ergonomic sports seats which further aid long-distance comfort, and are approved by the German Campaign for Healthier Backs (AGR).
Cabin storage is pretty good, with generous door bins, a centre cubby behind a lid, a pair of cupholders and a space underneath the armrest – but the glovebox is sliced in half by the location of the fuse box.
Still, the Vauxhall is spacious for passengers and luggage alike – considerably more so than an Astra. There’s good legroom in the rear for average-sized adults to sit behind a six-foot driver in decent comfort, and plenty of headroom – although squeezing three adults across the back isn’t ideal. ISOFIX points (two in the out rear seats and one in the front passenger seat) are easily accessible, too.
Disappointingly, a rear centre armrest with a ski hatch is only standard on top-spec trim in the facelifted Grandland – more versions featured it in the older Grandland X, strangely. But the 514-litre boot offers plenty of storage for prams and other family detritus, with hands-free opening on higher-spec models.
It’s worth noting that the plug-in hybrids lose a chunk of boot space (and underfloor storage) bringing the capacity down to 390 litres. Still, it’s a well-shaped space with a wide boot opening, while the seats are easily folded via levers on the boot sides. Underfloor storage is removed in petrol or diesel models with the optional spare wheel.
What is a used Vauxhall Grandland X like to drive?
‘Agreeable’ is the word that springs to mind when considering the driving experience of the Grandland X and Grandland. Beyond the surprisingly potent Hybrid4, there’s little surprise and delight to be found behind the wheel – but for many that’s no bad thing.
It means a generally vice-free driving experience. The steering is light making parking manoeuvres easy, the ride isolates you well from the worst potholes and the body doesn’t sway excessively in the bends.
If you don’t demand too much from it, then, it delivers. But this is not a car you’re going to take out for a drive just for the fun of it, mainly thanks to over-light, feel-free steering and body control that loses its composure when you push beyond a certain point.
A Seat Ateca offers a more enjoyable driving experience, for sure, but the Grandland’s good enough for its purpose as an affordable family hauler.
While some of the Vauxhall’s rivals offer a four-wheel drive option, no Grandland ever came fitted with it. Instead, some were offered with a selectable ‘IntelliGrip’ system, with drive modes that alter the car’s software for slippery surfaces.
Engines
The overwhelming majority of Grandland Xs or Grandlands on the used market come equipped with a three-cylinder 1.2-litre turbo petrol engine. That might sound a bit meagre for an SUV of this size, but it punches well above its weight.
With 130hp on tap, and a useful slug of torque, it’s a surprisingly punchy and responsive unit, only feeling a little out of its depth if you load it to the brim with people and luggage and encounter a chunky high-speed incline, or don’t keep it on the boil with the right gear. Really, it’ll suit most buyers.
Nevertheless, if you spend a lot of time carrying weight or crossing the country on motorways, then the 130hp 1.5-litre four-cylinder diesel is the better bet. It’s no nosier or less refined than the petrol but returns better fuel economy and feels a touch more effortless at getting up to speed. The only thing that holds it back is the sentiment towards diesel today – its lack of popularity when new means it’s harder to find one used.
Other engines include the older 120hp 1.6-litre diesel (which was replaced by the 1.5) which is also a decent unit, making the noisier 2.0-litre diesel offered in earlier examples a bit redundant unless you need the extra torque for towing. You could also get a 180hp 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine for a bit which is a strong performer, albeit thirstier than all of the above.
That bigger petrol engine was morphed into a few different plug-in hybrid options, too, allowing Vauxhall to ride the wave of low Benefit-in-Kind tax rates for company cars. With 225hp in Hybrid form performance is effortless but not exciting, whereas with a stonking 300hp in four-wheel drive Hybrid4 form there’s serious pace on offer. The Hybrid4 wasn't a big seller, though, so didn't make it to the facelifted Grandland.
The Hybrid4 manages 0-60mph in under six seconds, but its performance can overwhelm the Grandland X’s chassis, so the standard front-wheel drive model is a better bet. More importantly, the 13.2kWh battery pack offers an electric range of about 35 miles – a useful boon if your commute is fairly local and you can charge up at home.
Petrol and diesel versions of the Grandland X and Grandland are available with either a reasonably slick-shifting six-speed manual gearbox, or an eight-speed automatic that prefers smooth driving over being rushed.
Ownership, running costs and reliability
With such a wide variety of engines to choose from when new, a view into the used market gives a clear indication of those that chimed most with Grandland buyers. Unfortunately, this car’s most popular engine – the 1.2-litre turbo petrol - has a known design flaw.
The three-cylinder engine is a ‘Puretech’ unit, found across the Vauxhall range and in various Peugeot and Citroen models since 2012. It runs a ‘wet cambelt’ which is a timing belt running inside the engine lubricated by the car’s oil system.
It’s widely reported that these belts – particularly on pre-2019 cars before a revised design – can deteriorate before scheduled timing belt changes even with regular oil changes. The belt cracks, parts of it break off and that can block vital oil channels, eventually causing engine failure – a problem also widely publicised with Ford EcoBoost engines, for example.
While many used examples will have had replacement belts fitted by now, it’s worth getting a vehicle inspection to confirm the condition of the belt and ensuring the car service schedule has been rigorously stuck to.
Beyond that, there aren’t any major problems to report beyond minor electrical gremlins and reports of the odd coolant leak – again, an inspection is worth its weight in gold. There were a few recalls over the Grandland’s life for everything from side airbags to central seatbelts and an oil leak – you can use the DVSA's vehicle recall service to check these recalls have been done, although the seller may have some paperwork.
In terms of running costs, the 1.2 petrol returns a respectable 45.6mpg officially, with the 1.6 and 1.5-litre diesel managing around 10mpg more. As for the plug-in hybrid, an official figure of 200mpg-plus needs to be taken with the usual pinch of salt as you’ll only get near that if you regularly plug it in.
It’s also worth asking for it to be fully charged on test drives to check the range readout shows a healthy battery, although most are still under the eight-year, 100,000-mile hybrid battery warranty.
The 1.2-litre petrol Grandland is the cheapest to insure, but even the plug-in hybrids have reasonable insurance group. The PHEVs also offer substantial road tax benefits versus all other engines, which are subject to the £190 a year flat rate.
Euro NCAP: is a used Vauxhall Grandland a safe car?
The Grandland X was praised by Euro NCAP when it was tested for crash safety in 2017, scoring strong category ratings including 84% for adult occupant protection and 87% for child occupant protection. The rating is expired, meaning the test has become harder since it was tested and can’t be compared to new cars, but it compares strongly with other family SUVs at the time.
Every Grandland X comes equipped with seven airbags, speed assistance and lane keeping assist, as well mandated systems such as traction and stability control and a tyre pressure monitoring system.
However, not every model came fitted with automatic emergency braking – a system fitted as standard to the facelifted Grandland, along with a driver monitoring system. For the facelift, top-spec Ultimate trim also brings niceties such as adaptive cruise control and ‘lane position assistant’ which subtly guides the steering to keep you centered within your lane.
Plug-in Hybrid Grandlands also get a stop-and-go function with the adaptive cruise control for easier driving in heavy traffic. You’ll also find all-round parking sensors on every Grandland – not something fitted to every Grandland X.
Vauxhall Grandland FAQs
What is the Vauxhall Grandland equivalent to?
The Vauxhall Grandland/Grandland X is the Luton brand’s equivalent to the Peugeot 3008 – even sharing the same platform and engines – while also comparing closely with models such as the Ford Kuga, Skoda Karoq and Nissan Qashqai.
Which Vauxhall Grandland is top of the range?
For both the Grandland X and the facelifted 2022 Grandland, Ultimate trim is the top of the range variant. It brings luxurious touches such as adaptive cruise control, heated rear seats, a premium sound system and an electric tailgate
Is the Vauxhall Grandland X worth buying?
The Grandland X is a strong purchase for used car buyers who need a spacious, comfortable and no-nonsense SUV that’s also affordable to run. Its drab styling inside and out and lack of badge appeal may put some off, but not others.
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